'Competition was kick start I needed' (From Barry And District News)

'Competition was kick start I needed'

TWO Barry women have reached the last 30 of a national competition for female tycoons.

The competition is being run by magazine Take a Break.

Chloe Greene, from Station Street and Joanna Mounter, from Slade Road, entered the running and will find out this week if they have won.

There will be one winner who gets £1,000, plus a year's subscription to Business Boffins support plan worth £500 and face-to-face advice. Three runners up will get the subscription and £250.

Chloe is a support worker for homeless people and came up with the idea that she could be a personal shopper. The 29-year-old would also do any project managing the person would like, such as finding various items cheaper or organising projects such as buying a house.

She said: "The business will be called Fairy Godmother and there will be a website which is being set up at the moment. I want to help people do the things they do not want to do. I love shopping and helping people, so it wouldn't be problem for me to do this full time.

"When I saw the competition, it helped me to decide that I wanted to try the business idea. It was the kick-start I needed because I have had the idea for a while."

The second Barry finalist is Joanna, who has been running her business since July of this year. It's called Safe Cars and offers female drivers for female passengers.

The mother-of-two said: "I decided this service would be a good idea because when I go out with my friends I tend to be the last drop, and can understand how some women may feel vulnerable in this position.

"I think a lot of woman would appreciate a female driver.

"I've even had one pensioner asked if we could drop her off on Christmas Day already. It is a struggle at the moment because we are self-funded and the extra help if I win would be great."